Integrated Cancer Care

Strength. Support. Success.

We believe that cancer care should focus on treating the whole patient. From the latest in medical treatments and technologies for the body to our healing environment, our integrated cancer program is designed to help you overcome the physical, mental and emotional challenges of your diagnosis.

Our collective approach to patient care means that you will be managed by a team of experts who are familiar with your health history. Through this ongoing collaboration, our dedicated oncologists, radiologists, nurses, clinicians, community educators, surgeons, social workers, psychologists and chaplains will make sure that you have access to the care and services you need to thrive.

Additionally, our experienced health navigators are prepared to help you on your healing journey by connecting you with services across our hospital campus—making the process more manageable for both you and your loved ones.

Support
We offer a variety of healing services that support the mind, including support groups, patient education, stress reduction seminars, experienced social workers and alternative therapies.

Success
We create targeted goals to help you succeed on your health care journey. Our experts take an active role in determining the best course of care for each patient. Additionally, our commitment to research and education, and partnerships with other institutions in Chicago (such as Rush University Medical Center), allow us to provide the most advanced cancer care and treatments available.

We understand and value the unique goals of each patient, and we work with you to both set goals and achieve them with the use of a personalized care plan. Through our collaborative approach to health care and commitment to providing an excellent patient experience, we offer advanced cancer care with the personal attention that every patient deserves.

Excellent screening and diagnostic services are the essential first step in the continuum of quality cancer care. That's why we place great importance on these services at Swedish Covenant Hospital, offering the latest technology and programs designed to reach as many individuals in our community as possible.

For more detailed information on recommended screening guidelines, click here.

3-D mammography
3-D imaging benefits younger women and those with dense breasts by identifying abnormalities which may have been obscured in the past. Swedish Covenant Hospital is one of the only hospitals in Chicago equipped with 3-D mammography, also known as tomosynthesis. This innovative technology provides higher quality, more detailed images and scan results, which means more accurate diagnoses for our patients.

In 2-D mammograms, a camera positioned near the top of the X-ray machine takes a still image of the breast from above. This delivers a picture of the flattened breast which radiologists then examine for problem areas, such as masses or nodules. However, the static images can make it difficult for physicians to see abnormalities in dense breast tissue.

3-D mammograms, on the other hand, take multiple sweeping images across the breast. This allows physicians and technicians to access both pictures of the individual “slices” of a woman’s breast, as well as a composite of the images. By “rolling through” the multiple images, radiologists are able to essentially look under and behind dense breast tissue to find any areas of concern.

Mammograms can be scheduled at Swedish Covenant Hospital within one week. Even if you've had a mammogram before, make sure you're up to date. If your primary care physician is not affiliated with Swedish Covenant Hospital, you can still schedule your mammogram with us. Your results will be faxed to your physician. To schedule your appointment, please call our Call Center at 773-878-6888.

Community screenings
Our goal is to achieve a cancer-free community for the neighborhoods served by Swedish Covenant Hospital. To support this goal, we regularly offer convenient public health screenings—either free or at a reduced rate—for various types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colorectal, uterine, skin and lung. Lectures often accompany these screenings, to provide the community with the education and support necessary to aid prevention.

Diagnostic Services
If a biopsy is deemed necessary, patients at Swedish Covenant Hospital will receive the least invasive, most rapid test possible. We offer:

Sentinel node biopsy, which can quickly determine the stage of cancer by identifying the first node affected.

Stereotactic biopsy, which uses mammography to guide the radiologist to the suspicious site within the breast so tissue extraction can be minimal and precise.

Bone marrow aspiration, in which bone marrow is removed and analyzed to diagnose cancer or determine if it has metastasized.

Transvaginal ultrasound, a method of imaging the genital tract and pelvic structure to determine the presence of abnormalities that could indicate cancer. The test uses an ultrasound machine that emits high-frequency sound waves to create a superior image compared to traditional procedures.

As part of the hospital’s ongoing commitment to building partnerships that enhance treatment and care opportunities, Swedish Covenant Hospital has begun a cancer affiliation with Rush University Medical Center.

Under the guidance of Site Leader Jeffrey Cilley, M.D., the affiliation targets Swedish Covenant Hospital's cancer programs with the goal of improving the quality of services available to our patients, our community and our neighbors. The new relationship will strengthen our ability to help patients who are tackling an array of cancer types, including breast, colon, lung, liver and prostate cancer.

The affiliation provides patients with a host of service and treatment enhancements. These include:

Lifestyle enhancement for cancer patients through the use of the Galter LifeCenter

Breast Cancer
The Breast Health Program at Swedish Covenant Hospital is a comprehensive program that focuses on all aspects of breast health, from screening to diagnosis. The program's uniqueness derives from taking care of the whole person, not just the illness. The multidisciplinary team at Swedish Covenant Hospital, including primary care physicians and OB/GYNs, works together to consider the interactions of all activities—including exercise and diet, screenings and prevention.

To make a mammography appointment, please call 773-878-6888. Unlike other leading hospitals where appointments can take months, we adjust our schedules to allow patients to be seen within seven days. If your primary care physician is not affiliated with Swedish Covenant Hospital, you can still schedule your mammogram with us. Your results will be faxed to your physician.

Breast Health Program Donors
Swedish Covenant Hospital's Cancer Center is affiliated with both local and national organizations that work to provide excellent care to cancer patients in the Chicago area. The Breast Health program at SCH is generously supported by grants and donations from numerous foundations and individuals. We wish to thank all of our donors, but especially the following:

Colon Cancer
The best way to stop colon cancer before it starts is by removing polyps that can grow in the lining of the colon and rectum. These growths typically do not produce symptoms, which is why early and regular testing is crucial to preventing this second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

Screening Is Essential
Below are the four ways to be screened for colorectal cancer and recommendations for when and how often the tests should be performed. Keep in mind that regular testing should begin at age 50.

• Stool Blood Test: This very simple method tests a sample of the patient's stool for traces of blood that can't ordinarily be seen. Blood in the stool doesn't always mean cancer, but it does suggest more tests be given. This test is recommended once a year.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy: Using a flexible scope, the physician can see directly inside a portion of the colon. This procedure should be done ever five years along with a stool blood test.
• Barium enema: Combining barium and air enables the physician to spot contrasts in the lining of the colon. Abnormal areas may indicate cancer. This procedure is recommended once every five years.
• Colonoscopy: Similar to a flexible sigmoidoscopy, this procedure uses a scope to view the entire colon and remove polyps. This test should occur once every 10 years.

Colorectal cancer is usually curable when detected early. In fact, more than 90% of patients with localized colorectal cancer confined to the colon and rectum live for at least five years after the diagnosis.

Prostate Cancer
Swedish Covenant Hospital is fully committed to treating prostate cancer and sponsors free screenings and lectures to prevent and detect this second most common form of cancer in men and the third leading cause of cancer deaths (according to Altruis Biomedical Network).

Men in high risk groups, such as African American men or men who have a close family history of prostate cancer, should begin screenings at age 45. It is also recommended that men age 45 have a baseline PSA.